9 Day Gorilla Holiday in Rwanda, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival – Volcanoes National park

Upon arrival at Kigali Airport, your driver guide will be waiting for you; he will then transfer you to Kigali for a city tour to Gisozi genocide memorial museum before proceeding to Parc National des Volcans; the home to Mountain Gorillas. The journey takes you through the beautiful terraced hillsides that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape. Settle for a briefing about the Safari at;

• Hotel La Palme or Le bamboo gorilla lodge
• Mountain gorilla view lodge
• Muhabura hotel or Kinigi Guest House

Day 2: Gorilla tracking: Life time event

Have an early morning breakfast and get ready for today’s life time event of Gorillas tracking. You will assemble at the park headquarters with packed lunch, have a briefing about the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with gorillas.

Depending on the level of fitness, you may be asked to choose the group you wish to trek and the closest being about 2 hours or even a couple of minutes from the park boundary. The trek is quite strenuous, so you should be able to hike for 2-8 hours on steep and slippery mountain trails. Descend to the lodge for a rest. If the evening is free, we can have a cultural tour to nearby communities OR nature walk to the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Overnight at DAY 1.

Day 3: Second Gorilla Trekking

Another chance to enjoy the endangered mountain gorillas in their wild. You can choose a different group from yesterday, or visit the same gorilla family. Also choose to relax at the hotel / lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight (DAY 1).

Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking, transfer to Lake Kivu (1-2hrs)

Have breakfast then proceed for golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes national park, return for lunch and transfer to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu. Take a boat ride to the Hot springs, relax on the beach in the evening. Overnight at Paradise Marahide Hotel, Stipp Hotel, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest (Home of primates)

Nyungwe forest is made up of a variety of habitats including montane forests, bamboos, grasslands, and swamps. This is a home to 13 primate species such as Chimpanzees, endangered Golden monkeys, Blue Monkeys, colobus, red tailed monkeys and grey checked mangabeys. There are also about 300 bird species. Relax in the evening as we wait for dinner and Overnight at Gisakura Guest House, Peace Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge.

Day 6: Chimpanzee & Colobus Monkey trekking Expedition

Take early breakfast and enter Nyungwe forest for Chimpanzee trekking. Along the trek, you will encounter other species of un-habituated Golden monkeys and Grey cheeked Mangabey, blue monkey, l’hoest’s monkey, Angolan colobus monkey and Owl faced colobus monkey as well as over 300 bird species. Relax after lunch or we can go for colobus monkey tracking or forest walk to the water falls, dinner and overnight at DAY 5.

Day 7: Nyungwe – Butare – Kigali

Depart for Kigali after breakfast, en-route visit to Murambi Genocide memorial museum and stop in Butare town (Second to Kigali) to visit the National Museum, lunch and proceed to the hotel in Kigali, dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Transfer to Akagera national Park

Relax at your hotel in the morning, have breakfast and later transfer to Akagera National park (3hrs), arrive in time for a boat ride on Lake Ihema, dinner and overnight at Akagera game lodge.

Day 9: Akagera National Park Explore

Have breakfast at the lodge and proceed with the southern game drive alongside the Lake Ihema circuit where a plenty of animals can be seen, including Elephants, Masai Giraffes, Buffaloes, Zebras, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles and also many other mammal species. This game drive will also enable you to clearly view the gentle hills blending beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies.

After lunch, go for another game drive in the northern circuit of the park. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape through the northern circuit where you will see hippos, crocodiles and even more wildlife than on the lake circuit. Transfer back to Kigali in the evening where the tour ends.
End of the tour